Riding from San Diego to El Paso...any advise?

I got my xj700 a new tire, tune up and ready to take off this wed coming up to El Paso tx from San Diego. Anybody have any advise for my trip?

 

Don't know if it would look weird as I have no idea what your bike set up is, stock, bob, etc. But try and pick up a windshield for sure. Just a handle bar mount will help. I used to do some high mile trips on my 750 Maxim-X and seriously, after about 50 or so miles the wind used to kick the crap outta me because of the seating position. Also, a set of highway bars so you can move your legs around a bit. I'm sure others will respond.
Enjoy the ride!

 

Don't forget a basic tool kit, and one of those backpacks with a water bladder isn't a bad idea.

 

Tire plugs and a small air pump electic or manual.

 

Clip on throttle rest. Believe me-long rides can a bitch on
the hand. Like my 700, you'll be between 5/6k most of the time
and THAT gets uncomfortible.

Water, water, water!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There's a whole lot of open road a nothing but buzzards to keep you
company. Evan a short stop/repair is thirsty work in the desert.

+ one on a tire/tool kit;
" Muphy's Law" If you have them you prob wont need them.



+ one on hwy pegs. And I'll add ear plugs if you're running straight
pipes. Two or three hours into a ride and you may not think they sound
all that bad anymore, only really loud.

Be prepared for Hard rain. If you ride without a helmet like me
a sudden desert down pour can be quite intense with nowhere to
hide. A good velcro lower face mask will work just fine.

Your bike will run differenty at diff altitudes so dont worry if she acts
a bit strange at times.

good luck.

 

A good digital camera, not a cell phone. We want some really good pics from the ride.

 

a small siphon pump in the bag in case u run outta fuel you can fill up from a good samaritans tank. Along with what was said up above.

 

i use the passengers pegs to kick my feet on. gives you a different position to ride with. and sometimes i'll even kick my feet up on teh turn signals. not recommended on windy roads though.

my first cell phone came with 640 resolution. my second came with 1.3 mega pixels. my droid does 8 megs but i keep the resolution at 640.

my pics are every bit as good as a camera.

 

Use them even if you're not running straight pipes. I wear them as standard practice. It seems a prudent precaution, yes?

Remember, he's starting in San Diego. We have helmet laws out here.

I like the idea of the water bladder backpack. I was just looking at a sporting goods store ad and they run about $20 or so, IIRC.

 

we're taking a weeklong trip through yosemite this year.

thanks for the headsup on the helmet law. utah don't require but nevada does and now i know cali does also.

 

Found this on Google

 

there's a guy living in south carolina that claims no helmet law. but this map and a directory listing say otherwise. LOL.

 

THANKS GUYS!!! Theres a lot of things I wasn't thinking about. Like I said..Its my first trip so my mind is spinning crazy thinking about how much wieght not to take, rear tire, ect. My main one was how much trouble are the carbs going to give me with the altitude changes. Thanks again for all your great responces!!

 

the carbs didn't give anyone troubles back in the 80's. they won't give you troubles now.

as long as everything works and is maintained.

 

I would suggest a credit card with a decent limit on it just in case. Ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure too. So think about that if anything on your bike seems the slightest bit sketchy.